The England Cricket Board (ECB) has agreed to host the remainder of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League in September, according to a report in The Guardian. The world’s most popular cricket league was suspended for a week on Friday amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan.
Ahead of the league’s official cancellation, an IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala on Thursday was called off as a precautionary measure.
ECB chief executive Richard Gould has come forward and offered the BCCI his support if India fails to resume the IPL after a week-long suspension.
The report goes on to say that there are currently no “active discussions” between the two boards. However, a similar offer was reportedly made by the ECB in 2021, when the IPL was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the UAE eventually stepped in as the stand-in hosts.
Meanwhile the former India captain, Sourav Ganguly is optimistic that BCCI will be able to complete the IPL despite it has been paused for a week.
“I have seen today that the IPL is suspended for 7 days. The BCCI will complete this. They are efficient. During COVID, it was another emergency. I am sure the BCCI will complete it. A COVID-like situation is different. BCCI will work as per Indian government guidelines,” stated Ganguly while speaking to India Today.
